Christmas card spending by optical companies, practices and optical employees could be allocated to providing eye care for the UK’s homeless population, believes Vision Care for Homeless People, which is promoting its successful e-card.

“Thousands and thousands of pounds are spent each year on purchasing Christmas cards and the costly postage. So much more could be achieved if those funds went towards changing someone’s life, here at home, in the UK,” said Harinder Paul, Founder of Vision Care for Homeless People.

A donation of £5 pays for an eye examination and glasses for one person, thanks to the donated professional time, testing equipment, frames and lenses, at the centres in London and Birmingham. A donation of £400 funds one of the centres for a month, making a tremendous impact of people on the periphery of society, believes the charity.